Major League Soccer says it is monitoring the situation in Orlando before granting a franchise

August 9, 2013|By Joe Williams, Orlando Sentinel

Major League Soccer was watching.

And so were area youth and high-school coaches with interest as Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs announce plans to earmark $20 million toward an $85 million soccer-only stadium in downtown Orlando. The money is contingent on MLS awarding an expansion franchise to the Orlando City Soccer Club, possibly as early as the 2015 season.

"It is a whole different level," said Montverde Academy boys soccer coach Mike Potempa, who played briefly with the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS. "It's a bigger atmosphere, more exposure, more television. I know Orlando already has a solid [fan] following, but it will grow."

MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced plans last month to grow the league to 24 teams before 2020. The Orlando City Soccer Club has positioned itself to be one of those new franchises, on the condition it could find funding for a soccer-specific stadium to replace its current home, the Florida Citrus Bowl.

The mayors' announcement was a significant step toward that, but the plan still must be brought before both county and city commissioners for review, then public hearings and votes will be held.

Orlando City, whose owners intend to put $30 million toward a stadium and $70 million for the MLS expansion fee, is in its third season in the third-division USL Pro league.

"The MLS continues to monitor the situation and is keeping in regular contact with Orlando City officials regarding the next steps," league spokesman Dan Courtemanche told the Sentinel in an email. "MLS encourages both the city and county commissioners to follow Mayor Dyer and Mayor Jacobs' recommendations and support funding for this exciting public-private venture."

While most area coaches were excited by the news, Scott Waisanen, coach of the reigning Class 5A state champ Oviedo girls soccer team, said an MLS team in Orlando won't boost the number of youth-league players significantly.

"Having a soccer-specific stadium in Orlando is pretty neat," Waisanen said. "But the only thing that might be really exciting is if that stadium is near hotels, and it could be used for an FHSAA final four.

"I don't think having a soccer stadium in Central Florida will mean an increase in more youth soccer. If you had an NFL team in Central Florida, would you have more kids playing football?"

For the most part, the reaction was cheerful.

"It's very exciting," said Rodrigo Javier Guillén, president of Iron Lion Firm, an Orlando City fan group. "We are the kind of group that would support Orlando City, whatever division they are playing in. We know [moving into the MLS] has always been on their mind since Day 1."

Said George Sasvari, a former Lake Highland coach and founder of soccer training centers in Longwood: "A downtown soccer-specific stadium means a huge economic impact for Orlando, and the reason is because Florida and Orlando has such a diverse population base. You not only can hold MLS games there, but you can have international teams play there.

"Any time youth soccer players have a chance to see pro players on an up-close and personal level, it's a good thing."

Ocoee boys soccer coach Peter Moore said Orlando City's reach with fans would grow if it moves into MLS. Orlando City potentially could be the third time that MLS has ventured into Florida. The Miami Fusion (1998-2001) and Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996-2001) folded.

"With 8,000 fans in the Citrus Bowl, it still looks empty,'' he said. "Orlando is one of the few cities in Florida where they can draw fans from any direction.

"When the MLS tried Miami and Tampa, they really couldn't draw because half the area they would draw from was in the ocean or the gulf."